A disk array system comprises plural disk array devices, and each disk array device has two disk array controllers (first DAC and second DAC) for controlling a disk array. In each disk array device, the first DAC has a redundant configuration with a second DAC of any one of the other disk array devices. Likewise, in each disk array device, the second DAC has a redundant configuration with a first DAC of any one of the other disk array devices. Accordingly, because of the failure of a backboard or the like, even if the first DAC and second DAC of a disk array device become inoperative, when their partners in the redundant configurations are operative, the function as the DAC is maintained. Therefore, it is possible to replace a disk array device or the backboard thereof without terminating the operation of the disk array system.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A disk array system comprising a plurality of disk array devices each having plural disk array controllers for controlling writing and reading of data to plural disk devices constituting a disk array, wherein a first disk array device in the plurality of disk array devices has a first disk array controller, and a second disk array controller connected to the first disk array controller so as to communicate with each other via a first backboard; a second disk array device different from the first disk array device has a third disk array controller, and a fourth disk array controller connected to the third disk array controller so as to communicate with each other via a second backboard different from the first backboard; the first disk array controller is connected to the third disk array controller so as to communicate with each other via a cable; the second disk array controller is connected to the fourth disk array controller so as to communicate with each other via a cable; the second disk array controller and the third disk array controller have a redundant configuration; when there is another disk controller array controller, which is connected to each of the first and fourth disk array controllers so as to communicate with each other, other than the second and third disk array controllers, each of the first and fourth disk array controllers is connected to three disk array controllers so as to communicate with one another, and has a redundant configuration with a disk array controller other than the second and third disk array controllers; and when there is no other disk array controller, which is connected to each of the first and fourth disk array controllers so as to communicate with each other, other than the second and third disk array controllers, each of the first and fourth disk array controllers has a redundant configuration with a disk array controller connected to merely two disk array controllers so as to communicate with one another.
2. A disk array system comprising a plurality of disk array devices each having two disk array controllers for controlling a disk array, wherein each of the disk array devices has a first disk array controller, and a second disk array controller connected to the first disk array controller so as to communicate with each other via a backboard; each of the first and second disk array controllers has two ports for connecting cables, and is connected to a first or a second disk array controller of at least one other disk array device so as to communicate with the first or the second disk array controller via the cable using at least one port; the second disk array controller of each disk array device other than a terminator disk array device in the plurality of disk array devices has a redundant configuration with the first disk array controller of a disk array device right under that disk array device; the first disk array controller of a front-line disk array device has a redundant configuration with the second disk array controller of the terminator disk array device; and each of the disk array devices has a one-to-one correspondence with the backboards.
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March 10, 2009
January 31, 2012
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